Procedures

Aortic Arch Surgery

During aortic arch surgery, physicians use a special graft with branches already sewn in place, cool the body down, and supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain using a process called antegrade cerebral perfusion.

Aortic arch surgery is technically challenging. To protect the brain during this surgery, physicians at the Thoracic Aortic Center use a special graft with branches already sewn in place, cool the body down (hypothermic circulatory arrest) and supply oxygen-rich blood to the brain using a process called antegrade cerebral perfusion. Using these techniques we have found that our patients have a low risk of mortality (death) or stroke.